About once a year I go off on a rant about kids and backpacks.  It goes like this:  parents we tell the kids that if they lose their books or backpacks they are in DEEP doo-doo.  The kids really hear us because we are really serious.  Or are we?  How about if your kid is being chased by some pervert? Or a bully?  Do you really want to have a conversation where the kid says “Daddy, I couldn’t run any faster because I didn’t want to lose my backpack and get in trouble”?  Of COURSE NOT!!!!  So give the kids a nuanced message. They’ll understand it.